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Cass County restarts in-house reserve deputy academy after state changed training rules
Summary
Sheriff Jonner told commissioners the office completed an in-house 74‑hour Reserve Peace Officer Basic training required by the state, certifying a reserve program that saved county staffing costs.
Sheriff Jonner updated the Cass County Board of Commissioners on the sheriff’s office reserve deputy program and recent changes in state licensure that require reserves to complete a 74‑hour Reserve Peace Officer Basic course and hold a reserve license under the state POST board.
Jonner said the sheriff’s office secured Post Board approval to teach the reserve basic in-house and enrolled its first class under the new requirement. Four reserve deputies completed the course, Jonner said; the office is certified to teach the curriculum and hopes to expand the program to replenish volunteer reserves after the state changed training requirements.
The sheriff noted the county is allowed to equip up to 15 reserve deputies under current policy. Jonner said reserves perform many event and patrol support duties and described the program as a cost-saving resource: he told commissioners the office estimated reserves donated time in 2024 that equated to roughly $68,113 saved in salary costs. Jonner said earlier years had higher donated-hour totals; the transcript record contains multiple year figures provided by the sheriff’s office.
Under the state law change, reserves must now operate under the direct supervision of a licensed peace officer during operations, Jonner said. That limits unsupervised solo duty by reserves but still allows pairing reserves with full‑time deputies at community events so local volunteer funds raised by small towns are not consumed by staffing costs.
No formal action was taken; commissioners thanked the sheriff’s office for establishing the certified course and asked staff to continue reporting on reserve staffing and training needs.
